“The September stamps honor our veterans from the Second World War, look at Finnish customs and admire national landscapes,” says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, who is responsible for the selection of the artists and for providing guidance on the stamps' artistic work. On Wednesday, September 10, Posti will issue three stamp publications with a total of eleven different stamps.
Our youngest war veterans will turn 100
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Finland. At the same time, the youngest age group called up for war service will reach the age of 100. Today, the Tammenlehvän perinneliitto federation cherishes the heritage of our war veterans, and Posti will publish two stamps designed by Klaus Welp. The photographs on the blue-toned stamps feature a soldier on ski patrol and being treated in a hospital.
"Veteran-themed stamps reflect the atmosphere during the Second World War in Finland. Skiing was a cultural and tactical specialty of Finns during the Winter War and the Continuation War. The forested and snowy landscape was part of the environment in which soldiers lived and fought. The hospital image conveys warmhearted care and respect for those wounded in war," says Pia Mikkonen, Head of Fundraising for the Veterans of the Sotiemme Veteraanit (Our War Veterans) and Sotiemme Naiset (The Women of our Wars) collection.
"The message from veterans to us and future generations is clear: even a small nation can successfully defend its independence and liberty. Our war-time generation believed in peaceful diplomacy between nations, but also had to take up arms to defend Finland’s existence under extreme threat. They laid the foundation for an independent and democratic Finland, and with the release of the war veterans stamps, we want to honor their courage and sacrifice," says Anna Storm, Vice President, Sustainability and Corporate Affairs at Posti.
Some 1,200 Finnish veterans are still alive. This year, approximately 400 of our war veterans have already reached or will reach the age 100.
Veterans is a 10-stamp sheet with two different domestic no-value indicator stamp designs.
Long lines for free buckets and keeping distance from other people
Finns have several national customs, two of which are presented in colorful stamps designed by Miika Saksi. On the first stamp, people are lining up for free buckets, which is a well known way of getting masses of Finns moving. On the second stamp, people are waiting for a bus at a bus stop and, as is common in Finland, they are keeping their distance from other passengers.
According to Saksi, the challenge with the stamp size was how to describe people’s customs without a verbal explanation. The themes and implementation of the stamps were decided after several discussions with Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti.
Saksi used artificial intelligence to find details and graphic elements for the illustrations. "Every tiny element of the illustration, such as characters, clothes and hair, has been brought together with the help of image editing software. The finished illustrations represent the colorful collage technique typical of my work.
Finnish Customs will be a 10-stamp sheet containing two different domestic no-value indicator stamps.
Seven new national landscape stamps
The popular series of roll of stamps featuring national landscapes has progressed to its third part. This time, the stamps designed by Stiina Hovi feature landscapes from Helsinki, Hämeenkyrö, Lake Köyliönjärvi, Väisälänmäki, hilltop villages in North Karelia, Imatrankoski and Olavinlinna in Savonlinna.
"The stamp series presents the stunning national landscapes of our country, which have been admired for generations. Once again, the third series of National Landscapes stamps features both man-made and natural sites – each with its own meaning in the minds of the viewers. National landscapes create a visually diverse image of Finland. Stamps continue to have a strong position in conveying this message," says Stiina Hovi.
National Landscapes III will be issued as a 100-stamp roll that contains seven different domestic no-value indicator stamp designs.
First-day event at Helsinki Main Post Office on September 10
The first-day event for the September stamps will be held at the Helsinki Main Post Office (Elielinaukio 2 F, 00100 Helsinki) on Wednesday, September 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
New stamps, first day covers and other stamp products will be sold at the event, and visitors can get first day postmarks on their items. The stamp artists will be present to sign their works from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Welcome!